Comparing: M18 Hellcat vs. Jagdpanzer IV vs. Nashorn

Development started in 1942. In April 1943 the General Motors company produced the first prototypes. One of a few American tank destroyers manufactured on its original chassis, not on a tank chassis. The tank destroyer became the fastest armored vehicle, of this type, of World War II. A total of 2,507 vehicles were produced from July 1943 through October 1944.

The Pz. IV medium tank served as the basis for many vehicles, including tank destroyers. At the end of 1944, a version of the 75-mm PaK 42 L/70 gun was prepared for this basis. The new variant of the vehicle was designated the JagdPzIV/70. From August 1944 through March 1945, the Nibelungenwerke company produced 278 vehicles of this type.

The official designation of the Nashorn ("Rhinoceros") tank destroyer was 8.8 cm PaK 43/1 auf Geschützwagen III/IV (Sf). The vehicle was designated the Hornisse ("Hornet") until 1944. Produced on the same chassis as the Hummel heavy SPG. The vehicle first saw combat on the Eastern Front in the summer of 1943. A total of 494 vehicles were manufactured.